Difficulty and discrimination indices of multiple-choice examination items in a college of pharmacy therapeutics and pathophysiology course sequence.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in difficulty and discrimination among multiple-choice examination items with regard to format and content in pharmacy therapeutics and pathophysiology (TP) courses.

Methods: Items from a TP course sequence were categorized by format and content by a faculty committee using the Delphi technique. Difficulty was not normally distributed; therefore, a logit transformation was employed.

Graves' hyperthyroidism-induced psychosis treated with aripiprazole--a case report.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune syndrome with symptoms such as tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and psychiatric symptoms. Limited evidence exists for the treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism-induced psychosis with atypical antipsychotics. A 47-year-old female with a psychiatric history of bipolar disorder presented for the first time to the psychiatric hospital.

The role of paliperidone extended release for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, episodic mental illness associated with other psychiatric comorbidities. There is a substantial economic burden with BD, which makes it challenging to treat. The aim of this review is to evaluate the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and safety data related to paliperidone extended release (ER) for the treatment of BD.

Development of a residency interviewing preparatory seminar.

Purpose: The development of a residency interviewing preparatory seminar (RIPS) is described.

Summary: The RIPS elective at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy was designed to assist pharmacy students during their last professional year in preparing for the residency application process. The learning objectives of the course focused on improving students' interviewing and presentation skills, professionalism, and developing their curriculum vitae (CV) and personal statement.

Iloperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety data of iloperidone for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Data Sources: Data were selected by searching Pre-MEDLINE, MEDLINE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1966-January 2010). Abstracts, scientific posters, and unpublished data provided by the manufacturer in the English language were also assessed.

Role of omega-3 Fatty acids for prevention or treatment of perinatal depression.

Perinatal depression is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest during pregnancy or after childbirth. Women with perinatal depression may not receive proper medical treatment because of concerns over teratogenic effects related to drug therapy. Evidence suggests that low levels of omega-3 fatty acids are correlated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy and after delivery.

Paliperidone extended-release for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Paliperidone, the major active metabolite of risperidone (9-hydroxyrisperidone), is a second-generation antipsychotic that was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of acute schizophrenia and for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. We performed a literature search of PreMEDLINE, MEDLINE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from 1966-October 2007 to review the available data on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical evidence, and safety and tolerability profile of paliperidone extended-release (ER). Articles from randomized controlled trials, abstracts, and posters presented at national scientific meetings were included in this review.